The Lagos government says it has engaged stakeholders in discussions toward the smooth establishment of the right of way (RoW) for the construction of the Opebi-Mende link Bridge in Ikeja.

Mukaila Sanusi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, said in a statement on Saturday the project was a priority of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Mr Sanusi said the commissioner for physical planning and urban development, Idris Salako, led the stakeholders’ meeting in Alausa on Friday.

Mr Salako, according to the statement, said the construction of the Opebi-Mende link bridge and approach roads would ease gridlock.

“It is a known fact that the people are the ultimate beneficiaries of development projects like this. As promised through the THEMES agenda of the administration, the government led by Sanwo-Olu will continue to take concrete steps toward ensuring the delivery of the dividends of democracy to our people,” he explained.

Mr Salako added, “Evidently, this particular project, like many that have been executed across sectors, will add on as a good example of making life more abundant for the governed.”

He urged the stakeholders to grant public officers and contractors unhindered access for hitch-free operations to ensure the completion of the project on schedule.

Mr Salako added that as part of the procedure for the establishment of the RoW, officials of the ministry would serve statutory notices on buildings earmarked for removal and mark such affected buildings at the expiration of the notices.

He added that officers from the lands bureau would carry out a valuation exercise for compensation purposes before the actual removal of structures.

The special adviser to the governor on E-GIS and Planning Matters, Olajide Babatunde, urged property owners to respect the RoW of public facilities to avoid the demolition of their structures.

The special adviser on works and infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye, told the stakeholders “to take ownership of the project and accord it the deserved support as their inputs and suggestions were factored in.”

(NAN)